? AT THE MOVIES-

Ferrari (trailer: runtime 2:27) brings a balanced narrative of action and drama in the life of Enzo Ferrari, thanks to the performance of Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz, and, of course, Michael Mann, in the director’s chair. The film is based on the 1991 book Enzo Ferrari: The Man, The Cars, The Races, The Machine by Brock Yates.

It's 1957…despite the appearance of success, Enzo is facing a quagmire. There is pressure at work as his company and passion are under threat and he is losing more money than making it. His relationship with his wife, Laura (the captivating Penelope Cruz) is strained after the loss of their son, Alfredo, while he tries to spend time with his lover/mistress Lina Lardi (Shailene Woodley), and their son Piero.

The acting is commendable — Adam Driver immerses himself in the character of Enzo Ferrari. The actor switches on his Method acting and truly embodies El Commendatore, not just physically, but his mannerisms, his stone-faced demeanor, and his passion for the company that he built. Penelope Cruz is enchanting as Laura Ferrari: Look for moments of complete silence as Cruz extends her character’s message simply through her eyes and expressions. Try to control your nerves when she catches wind of Ferrari’s affair and pursues Lina.

Then there are the cars and the races. To push out the competition and perhaps score a partner to pump money into Ferrari, Enzo is advised to participate in the Mille Miglia, a historical race in Italy to drive for 1k miles. The cinematography in this segment of the film is spectacular, the Ferrari red, the blue of the Italian sky, and the treacherous route that leads to moments of tragedy can only be the work of Michael Mann.

“Two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same moment in time,” explains El Commendatore, but in the film, he defies physics by navigating both personal and professional pressures and emerges from them, tainted, but victorious.

You can watch the film at Vox Cinemas.

? FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

Mira wants to save the world one project at a time: She has brought together an unexpected ensemble that goes about planting crops wherever they act and they’re called Birnam Wood.

While their activities may not be exactly legal, their intentions are noble as they are able to turn abandoned plots and backyards into green little havens. But as the group’s ambitions grow, so do the obstacles in their way: When they set their sights on an impromptu farm created from a landslide, so does Robert Lemoine.

The man is the ultimate eccentric, ultra-wealthy capitalist: He is eyeing the New Zealand plot to build himself a bunker to ensure his survival once the world comes to a close — or so he claims. When Mira manages to strike a deal with him, we are left to wonder about Lemoine’s true intentions and their impact on Birnam Wood.

This novel is categorized into several genres and is impressive on so many levels — cited as an ecological novel, a comedy, and will keep readers turning the page, even the New York Times had plenty of praise for the volume. Cotton, one of the youngest Booker Prize winners knows what it takes to write an engaging tale that will speak to our day and age.

WHERE TO FIND IT- Eleanor Catton’s third novel is available at Diwan Bookstore.

? HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

When in doubt, go to Kasr El Kababgy…this restaurant is an experience, with a kitschy design alluding to a sense of grandeur (large black-palace-like building, golden lions at every corner) which may seem off-putting until you see the lines of folks waiting outside to get in or pick-up their meals to enjoy their food at home.

They serve one of the best traditional Egyptian meals in the city…from the most basic dish to their most complex, you can expect to close your eyes and let the flavor sink into your palate. They are organized, clean, and eager to serve.

Their meats are the belle of the ball: Fettah, kebab, rozmaamar (rice with milk cooked in a clay pot with some form of meat or poultry) — all the dishes have ample servings of meat, chicken, or pigeon — and are heavy on the ghee. You’ll note that they serve their food to you on plastic dishes but only so that they can quickly pack it for you as they are certain you won’t be able to finish your meal.

They serve food and spectacle…which makes it ideal for taking your non-Egyptian friends or business clients. Here the concept is to give all patrons the royal experience, plush chairs, plenty of ventilation, hearty food, and quick service. And they cater to Instagrammable/TikTok content, the food’s arrangement is appetizing and then there is the drum roll every time a plate of molokhia is served…

…which can be the caveat to this experience. The venue can get quite noisy and busy — especially since the children’s play area is inside the ‘palace’. They do try to lower the volume on the giant TV screen indoors, but sometimes it does not help, as they are still parading every plate of molokhia served.

PRO TIP- Kasr El Kababgy pulls quite a crowd, so book in advance or go before 3pm. Also, they have two locations in New Cairo and Sheikh Zayed, so you will find parking spots. They don’t deliver but they do have a pick-up service (and a small coffee kiosk outside to serve the waiting patrons).

? Per person: EGP 750 - EGP 900

? Outdoor seating: No

?Smoking/shisha: Yes

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly: Yes

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